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Tour Operator: The Russia Experience
To book this trip call:  08700 66 45 11
Moscow - Beijing

Trip Itinerary

Day 01
Arrival in Moscow! We whisk you by car directly to your hotel-your first night in Moscow.

Day 02
 Moscow Calling! Your local expert is on hand to smooth your path… at least until lunchtime! Afternoon and evening free to explore.

Day 03 
A full free day- for you to pack in the rest! Mid-afternoon we take you to your waiting train-to Siberia!

Day 04 
Full day on train through the Ural Mountains, arrival late evening into Ekaterinburg-car to Hotel.

Day 05 
Four hour walking tour of Ekaterinburg with local local expert. Afternoon and evening free to explore further.

Day 06
Please choose one of the following fully inclusive day trip option:
(A) ROMANOV GRAVES (Europe/ Asia Border Monument en-route). Car excursion to site where the Romanov bodies were hidden. 5-6 hours. All Year.
No physical exertion involved.
(B) SIBERIAN COUNTRYSIDE & HISTORIC VILLAGE
Visit to an old village now under a Preservation Order. Includes home-cooked lunch, exhibitions of craftlore, horsecart riding. 8-9 hours. Year round. No physical exertion involved.
(B) HIKING TRIP IN THE URALS Outdoor adventure in an area which is a designated nature park. Car transfer then 8-15km walk (you decide) where you will see a variety of flora and fauna and learn about the indigenous species of wildlife. No special equipment needed. Duration 8-9 hours. Lunch provided.
(D) SIBERIAN WILDERNESS ADVENTURE Combined soft raft (6km) and Forest Hike (12km)-optional cave visit. 12 Jun-12 Sep. Good fitness required.
(E) SKIING At Ezhovaya Slopes Ski Resort-even Putin skis here (sometimes). Skis/Poles/Lift-Pass package purchasable locally approx $25 payable in roubles. 01 Dec-15 Mar. No instruction is included - this program is for those who can already ski without instruction.
(F) ICE-FISHING Yes, you saw the cartoons, now
you can try it yourself. Tackle, Angler's Hints & Fur Coat
provided. 15 Nov-15 Dec & 01 Feb-15 Mar. We don’t guarantee you'll catch anything! Takes 8 hours but you
can come back sooner if you get cold.
(G) SIBERIAN HUSKY DOGSLEDDING Exactly what it says! A whole day adventure to include 3-4 hours sledding following a made track through the forest. 01 Dec-01 Mar. (unavailable 31.Dec 10 Jan). No special fitness required, but be ready to fall-off in the soft snow a few times-they're pretty fast! Option to either remain at your hotel until 02:00 or
check-out early evening and chill-out at the Malachit Nightclub (admission tickets and bar-bill are yours, but we take you there and back) and then directly (with luggage) to station. Depart 04:00 eastwards… 

DAY 07 & 08
Onwards via Novosibirsk and Krasnoyarsk to Irkutsk

BIKAL Programmes Choose either Siberian Village or Fishermans Cape of Lake Baikal

1) SIBERIAN VILLAGE
DAY 09 
Arrival into Irkutsk and transfer (1hr) to Listvyanka Village on the shore of Lake Baikal. Stay in an authentic Siberian log-cabin (izba). Lunch. See the village, the old Church, and the Lake Wildlife Museum-with your friendly local expert. Then get it all off your chest the Siberian way-in the sauna! (banya) You'll be ready for your home-cooked supper after all that-then sleep like a log in a log cabin. 

DAY 10 Choose one activity from below its all included in the trip price!
(A) TAKING A SHORT SOFT TREK through the
Taiga Forest-and a Forester Guide to explain the
wildlife, ecosystem and lore of the Taiga. (May-Oct).
(B) TAKE A FRESHWATER SCUBA DIVE in Lake
Baikal (they say you gain a year of life if you dive in!)
with qualified CMAS-instructors (requires PADI-1),
(May-Oct.) 2 dives included (Feb-Mar.) Ice Dive.
1 dive included.
(C) SNOWMOBILE TRIP (2 hrs) with a local guidethrough
the forest, or even out over the deep-frozen
lake! (Dec-Apr).
(D) TAKE YOURSELF FOR A WALK out of
the village with a packed lunch and a book, and
contemplate the vastness of the world's hugest lake.
(year-round weather permitting). Supper with your host
family this evening. Then sleep like a log in a log cabin!

2) FISHERMAN'S CAPE OF LAKE BAIKAL
DAY 09
Car from Irkutsk Station to the remoter village of Bolshoe Goloustnoye (110km on rural roads). A local guide shows you the village, the Old Church, and the lake shoreline. Get the 20th Century out of your system have a real Siberian Sauna (banya), which will give you an appetite for a home-cooked supper. Overnight with host family.

DAY 10
Leisurely lakeside walk (9km) to Ushkani Cape, and visit our friends the fishermen for lunch at their cabin. Leisurely walk back to Bolshoe Goloustnoye Village. Supper, then relish the hushed silence away from the tourist throng.

DAY 11 
Transfer to Irkutsk Free time to explore on foot (we watch your bags) until evening departure to station and on by overnight train to Ulan-Uday.

DAY 12
Arrival early morning in Ulan-Uday, transfer to Family Stay. Car/guide trip to Atsagatsky Buddhist Lamasery. After the monastery, try cuisine of Buryatia for lunch with a village family. Return to Ulan-Uday. Family stay, supper and overnight. (Option to upgrade to 3* hotel B&B, Lunch and dinner at own expense).

DAY 13
Visit to the Ivolginsky Datsan (a much larger monastery). Lunch. Visit to Centre of Eastern Medicine (optional consultation). Overnight.

DAY 14
Early transfer to the station and depart for Mongolia-midnight border crossing (with halt for formalities).

DAY 15
Mid-morning arrival in Outer Mongolia! Shower, breakfast, transfer to a Mongolian Ger Camp-with accommodation in traditional Mongolian wood-framed felt tents (gers). The Mongolian steppes are outside your new home-go and explore! Lunch and Supper are included (yes, there are vegetarian options too).

DAY 16
Horse-riding is available (for a small local charge) with local herdsmen leaders-or walk, relax, or sometimes play traditional Mongolian sports? (all meals included).

DAY 17
Back to Ulaanbaatar. Internet cafés, bars, restaurants and nightclubs are waiting for you to let your  hair down Mongolian style. Overnight 3* hotel.

DAY 18
Transfer to your departing Beijing-bound train this morning. Midnight border crossing and onwards into China!

DAY 19
Thunder on across China past the Great Wall. Mid-afternoon arrival into Beijing Central Station. Your trans-siberian journey comes to an end.

Trip available in reverse contact us for details.